guard 1 of 2

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2
as in defensive
a position of readiness to oppose actual or expected attack be on your guard against snakes in the swamp

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in lock
a protective device (as on a weapon) to prevent accidental operation slid the guard into place over the chainsaw chain

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
5
as in guide
one that accompanies another for protection, guidance, or as a courtesy the honor guards raised their sabers as the happy couple descended the church steps

Synonyms & Similar Words

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guard

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word guard different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of guard are defend, protect, safeguard, and shield. While all these words mean "to keep secure from danger or against attack," guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.

White House entrances are well guarded

In what contexts can defend take the place of guard?

The words defend and guard are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.

defend the country

When can protect be used instead of guard?

While the synonyms protect and guard are close in meaning, protect implies the use of something (such as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure.

a hard hat to protect your head

Where would safeguard be a reasonable alternative to guard?

In some situations, the words safeguard and guard are roughly equivalent. However, safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.

our civil liberties must be safeguarded

When is shield a more appropriate choice than guard?

The words shield and guard can be used in similar contexts, but shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.

shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of guard
Noun
This year’s snub doesn’t figure to start a trend, however, as incoming freshman guard Darryn Peterson is ESPN.com’s early choice to be selected No. 1 overall in June 2026. Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2025 Voting for the starters — four guards and six frontcourt players — was weighted among three groups: fans (50%), players (25%) and media (25%). Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
Verb
Chiefs guard Trey Smith was a guest on the latest episode of the New Heights podcast and, naturally, the discussion turned to KC’s offensive line. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2025 His short films focus on a different team of rangers fighting to protect endangered species or guarding areas around the world, and kicked off six weeks ago. Simon Perry, People.com, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for guard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guard
Noun
  • The council will also consider measures to hold parents and guardians accountable for their children's actions, including fines and parenting classes for repeat violations.
    Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 8 July 2025
  • Riding on the laurels of military success in Iran, Netanyahu and Trump envision themselves as guardians of the free world.
    Ayelet Gundar-Goshen, Time, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • Ukraine has largely been on the defensive since its loss in the Battle of Avdiivka in February 2024.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 29 June 2025
  • Coming off a national championship win, Ransom is a tone-setting defensive back who can make plays on the ball.
    Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Camila Alves McConaughey waved her dark locks from the roots to the tips, while Bb Trickz added inches to her ends with extensions.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 30 June 2025
  • Rose doesn't have the restraint of a neurotypical 9-year-old, so chemicals and electronics are kept behind three levels of locks.
    Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • Clarence Darrow, a celebrated defense attorney, represented Scopes.
    Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 8 July 2025
  • At Lopez’s sentencing, his defense attorney, Michael F. Hart, described his client's actions on the time check card as following department norms.
    Ashley Luthern, jsonline.com, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • Stargazers looking to understand Earth’s natural satellite better should check out our ultimate guide to exploring the lunar surface, along with our guides to the best telescopes and binoculars for exploring the solar system.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 5 July 2025
  • Check out our guides to the Best Sleeping Bags and the Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads.
    Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • He is also not being represented by a lawyer at this time due to a conflict of interest with the public defender's office.
    Chris Spargo, People.com, 5 July 2025
  • Chelsea paid a record $1.1 million transfer fee to acquire Girma from the San Diego Wave, and the star USWNT defender committed to the WSL with a four-and-a-half year deal.
    Molly Geary, Sportico.com, 5 July 2025
Verb
  • Today the act protects more than 2,300 plant and animal species in the US and abroad.
    Christine Peterson, Wired News, 5 July 2025
  • The show, based on a novella by the author Martha Wells, follows a snarky private-security cyborg (played by Alexander Skarsgård) assigned to protect a group of scientists investigating a mostly uncharted planet.
    Emma Stefansky, The Atlantic, 5 July 2025
Verb
  • Looks like the oil industry is expecting the Strait to be blockaded in the coming days.
    Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
  • The zombies move fast here, so some of the traditional zombie moments, like the inevitable part where everyone is blockaded in a house for a while, don’t really work in 28 Days.
    Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 18 June 2025

Cite this Entry

“Guard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guard. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.

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